Now Billy Batson has made his DCEU debut, you may be wondering what DC movies are coming out after Shazam! There's a sense in which Shazam! is a key milestone in the history of the DCEU; it marks the end of the DCEU's original slate and begins their exploration into more distinct projects.
When Warner Bros. first began the DCEU, it was headlined by A-list superheroes like Superman and Batman, but they hit quite a few stumbling blocks along the way. The studio has done something of a course-correction over the last couple of years, and it's paid off. Wonder Woman broke the glass ceiling for female superheroes, with a much-anticipated sequel in the works. Aquaman proved that there's an appetite for lighter, less somber adventures, and grossed over $1 billion in the global box office.
Related: Who Are The Shazam Family? DC’s New Movie Team Explained
Shazam! looks set to continue this winning streak, outgrossing Aquaman in sneak peek screenings. Clearly, future DC movies are taking a much looser, more flexible approach to the shared universe model, with each film allowed to stand pretty much separate and embrace whatever tone and style the director feels is right for the franchise. Needless to say, that's led to a very exciting slate of upcoming films in the DCEU and beyond all the way up to 2022. Here's every DC movie confirmed for after Shazam!
Joker - October 4, 2019
An origin story for the Clown Prince of Crime that's entirely unconnected from the DCEU, Joker is the first DC movie after Shazam! and couldn't be more different. Directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role, Joker was initially treated with skepticism from viewers, but the first trailer shows real promise. The film only had a budget of $55 million, so it doesn't need to make much to be a success.
Read More: Joker Trailer Breakdown: 15 Story Reveals & Secrets
Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) - February 7, 2020
Featuring the return of Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Birds of Prey will introduce Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain, and Rosie Perez as GCPD Detective Renee Montoya. It's confirmed to be another low-budget film that tilts towards an R-rating, proving that Shazam! doesn't mean all DC films will be light-hearted going forward.
Read More: Birds of Prey Movie: Every Update You Need To Know
Wonder Woman 1984 - June 5, 2020
The first Justice League-related movie after Shazam! is 2020's Wonder Woman 1984. Gal Gadot is back as Diana Prince, who must deal with the surprise return of Chris Pine's Steve Trevor while handling Kristen Wiig's Cheetah and Pedro Pascal's mysterious villain. Of course, director Patty Jenkins is back behind the camera, and may have more ideas for the future.
Related: Wonder Woman 1984: Every Update You Need To Know
DC Super Pets - May 21, 2021
Taking a step away from live-action, Jared Stern is working on a script for an animated DC Super Pets movie, expected to release in 2021. It's unclear whether the film will be inspired by the Cartoon Network series or whether Stern will start from scratch with an all-new adaptation. For sure, Super Pets is sure to include some of the staple DC characters, such as Krypto the Super-Dog and Streaky the Super-Cat.
The Batman - June 25, 2021
Written and directed by Matt Reeves, The Batman will introduce a whole new version of the Dark Knight now Ben Affleck is hanging up the cowl. Reeves is keeping quiet about the plot, but has teased that it will be set early in Batman's career and will see him demonstrate his skills as a detective. It's expected to feature a "rogues' gallery" of villains.
The Suicide Squad - August 6, 2021
Director James Gunn has joined the DCEU for what's being described as an "unconventional sequel," The Suicide Squad. Gunn is rumored to be totally switching up the team, with new members including King Shark, the Ratcatcher, the Polka-Dot Man, and the Peacemaker, although Jai Courtney has said he'll be returning as Captain Boomerang and Idris Elba is in talks to replace Will Smith as Deadshot.
Aquaman 2 - December 16, 2022
Rounding out the current DC film slate (until Shazam 2 is announced) is Aquaman 2, with Jason Momoa, Amber Heard and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II all set to return as Arthur Curry, Meera and Black Manta respectively. Given Aquaman's box office success, it's no surprise Warner Bros. has signed up for a sequel, although the four-year gap is a little more unexpected. It's probably because the studio want to keep the film in the successful winter season, which is highly competitive over the next few years.
